Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1887-06-23

ioi 'hS RicatcSt good they ever did
calling TO hear them say that i'm the
solemn observance of this day there
rs no element of good; that il is
wrong to decorate the graves OF
their comrades; that there is moth
ing IN It but political capital and the
self glorification of the old soldiers
who participate.
While snccring at and misrcprc.
Senting the Grand Army of the RI
public, because willfully ignorant
OF its present object, purposes and
workings, these comrades would
tear from the oountryS history its
most illustrous chaptcr, would lei
J wither and die the laurel wreath
around the brow of their dearest
comrade, lest the rccollcctions of
the past, recalled by this days cere.
monies, wound the feelings OF some
one who will not think and cannot
learn.
Brave men and true, whether
they wore the blue or the gray, have
the courage of their convictions.
and should look squarcly i'm the face
and fcarlcssly discuss any question
in which the people have an inter.
/ est.
Without attempting to defend tho
course pursued by the Grand Army
Of the Republic at its organization
soon after the close of the war:
speaking for il rs il is to-day; de.
nouncing as absolutely false the
charge that, as an organization, IL is
for or against any political party;
pleading for the continued observ.
ance of the day because the lesson
it teaches, the charge OF self glorifi.
cation may DC conceded. But what
of thati
10 me II seems most natural that
men who engaged in the struggle i'm
which these comrades fell--whether
reminded of the past by scars re.
ceivcd IN battle, by the sight Of the
old flag, by sound OF bugle or beat
of drum, by flowers strcwn on the
graves of comrades, or what not
should feel the pulse quicken.
the heart beat faster, the old fire and
energy return, and should want The
world to know that wheu the fate
of the nation hung in the balance
when its life was at Stakc-theya and
their comrades perillcd their lives
that the nation might not perish.
Commenting these Comrades 10
an intelligent study Of the Grand
Army of the Republic of TODAY.
satisfied that the binding mist
of prejudice will fade in proportion
to the light received, cali their at
tention, and yours, to two import.
ant facts:
First, that for several years past
the Grand Army Of the Republic
has been, and is now, doing more
good in the way Of oblitcrating the
old dead line between North and
South, and in bringing about that
era Of fraternity which should pre-.
vail between the two sections, than
all the politicians and all other in.
fuences combined; that tae gallant
( Confederate, who wore the gray
and fought in open field, not only
does not object tO the Grand Army
of the Republic, but, throughout
the Southern States, has to-day fal.
len into the ranks Of his Confcdcr.
ate Camp and marched in tho same
procession, TO the same music and
the same muflled drum, with our
Grand Army Posts, and the two
have joined in paying the tribute OF
a soldiers love to his dead comrade.
Second, that, but for the efforts
and achievements Of the men who
wore the blue, this country would
to-day be divided, and have at least
two separate governments How
much farther the wild doctrine oi
States rights would by this time
have carried these ~diVisions and
subdivisions, Heaven only knows;
but one thing is certain, and that is
that we, the Union soldiers Of the
late war not only reunited q divid.
ed country and prevented perma
nent disuniOu, but we made IL pos.
siblc for one man, in this year ol
grace 1887, TO be the Prcsident--not
Of the Southern States, but the Pres.
ident Of all the States Of the Amer
ican Union.
But leaving these comrades 10
their self.inhicted punishment, turn
now, as becomes q soldier, TO the cmore
Z pleasant duty which 90 me Is in
fact but a labor Of lovc-of paying
the tribute and homage Of the sol
dier's gratitude to the loyal women
Of tho war
They wore no uniform, fred no
musket, yet upon thousand occn-
sions. in a thousand ways. when
the days were longest and the nights
darkest, they gave US to understand
that they were in active, intelligent
sympathy with every effort we
made 10 save the country.
While wars wild weather ruled
the year these noble women collect.
ed with loving hands and sent
through the Sanitary and Christian
commissions 90 all the hospitals cs.
tablished upon the field and along
the rivers and bayous and swamps
Of the South, argosics laden with
supplies for sick and wounded
supplies Of dclicacies but for which
f,1attt ca rc.s,rsfI.. l..e.. g.. 81. ......f 4